Dante wishes you all a very merry Christmas!

[Naurthon]

Awesome. But I sure hope he doesn't sing that all year long.

Much preffered to screaming wouldnt you say ^^?

Oh HECK yes!!! LOL

[Naurthon]

Dante just said, "Merry Christmas, Nikko!" to my BCC. I love it when he takes what I've taught him and makes it his own!

[animal_lover]

Oh Dante...you're such a sweet fella

Everytime I see a CAG on Youtube etc it makes me want one more and more
Merry Christmas

[liz]

I don't want another critter in my house. I am over run now. I especially would not want a grey but I do love hearing about Dante.

This forum is kind of like having neices and nephues everywhere.

[Maria]

Naurthon !!!!!! That is adorable, terrific, and I can't find enough more adjectives!!!!!! LOL !!! Tell me how you taught your bird that. I would sing twinkle twinkle little star song to my bird, and he picked up the "twiiiinkle staaarrrrr" - lol

[Maria]

That was preciouse. Dante is becoming quite a charector. And it should make up for "Daddy's a poop".

"Daddy's a poop" .... aaaawwwww !! too cute!

[Naurthon]

Tell me how you taught your bird that.

I started off just repeating "Merry Christmas!" and singing "We wish you a Merry Christmas" over and over again. It took about two weeks for him to learn it well enough that you could understand what he was saying. After that, I added "Ho, ho, ho!" before "Merry Christmas!" It took him two days to pick that up. Unfortunately, he didn't really start nailing it until the day after I took the video.

I think the key to getting him to learn this was using somewhat exaggerated vocalizations on my part when I was training him. For "Merry Christmas" I spoke in a higher pitch than I usually do, over-accented the first syllables of the words, and really extended the last syllable of Christmas: *MER*-ree *CHRIST*-maaaaaaassss!!! I took a similar approach teaching him the song, putting a very strong accent on "wish" to try to make the sound something unusual and interesting for him. SImilarly, when I added "Ho, ho, ho!" each word was strongly accented and a bit stacatto (short and detached from the other words). I didn't hold back on the volume either (loud is good for parrots!) and every time he tried to say it, I would say it back to him, even from another room.

[Maria]

Absolutely terrific training, Naurthon !!

One of my bird's latest and cutest is:

"What's your name? My name is Baaaaby."

Then he'll ask me, "What's your name?"

And I'll say, "My name is Mama; what's your name?"

Then he'll say, "My name is Baaaaby.".

Or he'll just come out with: "What's your name?"

And I'll say, "Mama; what's your name?"

Then he'll say, "Baaaaby".

All these different combinations, like he understands. He's learned his name, etc., and he's learned to associate "Mama" with me. When I walk out of a room alot of times, he screams, MAMA! MAMA! RRRAAA! until I come back into the room.

Then last night, while I was in the kitchen doing his feeding bowls:

Baby: Mama, what's your name?
Me: My name is mama; what's your name?
Baby: My name is Baaaaaby.

LOL

[Naurthon]

Nice! I'm working on "What's your name?" with Dante. He'll say "Dante" when I ask "what's your name?"...but he also tends to say "Dante" when I say "I love you" to him, so he still seems to be at the "this is the noise Daddy wants me to make before he gives me that seed" stage. heheh

[Maria]

Nice! I'm working on "What's your name?" with Dante. He'll say "Dante" when I ask "what's your name?"...but he also tends to say "Dante" when I say "I love you" to him, so he still seems to be at the "this is the noise Daddy wants me to make before he gives me that seed" stage. heheh

LOL - TOO CUTE